Tuesday, September 29, 2009

I am deeply humbled and grateful to inform you that, on behalf of COSAD, I have just won the DICOTA’s 2009 “OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPY AWARD”.

The award is “to honor an outstanding individual who has invested his/her passion, time, talent, and/or financial support through philanthropic activities…as an agent of positive change in Tanzania and the communities they live in.”

The award will be presented in Houston Texas, this Friday October 2, 2009. The guest of honor is expected to be the president of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mr. Jakaya M. Kikwete who is currently in New York attending the UN general assembly.

On behalf of COSAD Board of Directors, I want to sincerely thank you all for your generous support and commitment to the people of Tanzania through COSAD. I am humbled by the fact that this award was highly competitive and it is the first ever to be awarded to anyone! (See more at www.dicotaus.org)

COSAD shall remain committed to building genuine relationship that inspires and empowers individuals in Tanzanian communities to become productive citizens themselves. With your continued support, my dream and vision will only grow stronger!

While many nations are progressing towards positive economic and social changes, Tanzania is scampering towards self destruction. The stealthy negative drift of our country towards social-economic catastrophe, is rather worrying due to the very fact that, Tanzania’s demise is being orchestrated by Tanzanians themselves who are rapidly replacing the culture of hard work with the get rich quick mythology, accompanied by endless lavish and unsustainable lifestyles, on top of irresponsibility on the part of country’s leadership

Many people within our nation have been caught up in the middle of unorthodox lifestyles, which are impelling millions of us, to focus more on how to strike quick monetary deals, than being creative enough to think of sustainable life, many years after today. It is sad that many of our people have been swamped in this wave of unrealistic lifestyles, which has replaced discipline and hard work, with ”starehe”; and this is worrying.

While transiting from Mara region through Kenya, back to Dar es Salaam, I had a few minutes to process necessary paperwork needed to cross (drive through) the border. In the process, I was compelled to make a few phone calls, and had no sufficient credit, and had to purchase additional credit from a nearby shop cum-bar, and restaurant prior to my departure, and my experience was rather pessimistic, and sad indeed to say the least; all I saw was a silent death of our nationAt nine in the morning, men, women and teenagers, strong enough to work were in, for a full blown party. In a simple language, the bar was full of people, and tables within, were full beer bottles. It was party time; staggering men and women who were evidently unable to hold their balance took to the floor, forcibly trying to keep up with the rhythm of the Congolese music “Bolingo”, which controlled the tempo.

A day after arriving in Dar es Salaam, I had another trip to Morogoro with a group of volunteers. I was supposed to be picked up at a very popular spot, and on that day if I was to be a customer at this city spot, I would have been the first customer. A few minutes before ten in the morning, a small car pulled up with two young men, who were in their either mid twenties or early thirties. Less than ten minutes later, another vehicle pulled up with two more young men along with a lady, and both sat on the same table. They were well kept, and neatly dressed, with some of them holding expensive mobile phones.

No sooner did they take their seats than they were served with beer, and within no time, scary and heated soccer talk- fanaticism- ensued as some obviously were for the Manchester United, while the rest were Liverpool diehard fans. I was surprised when one of them identified me by name, even though we had never met before, and offered me a drink. I, however, Politely declined the offer, not only because I don’t use alcohol, but mainly because of the time –it was too early- These were young people, strong enough to be doing all kind of work to push the economic wheel, yet were emptying beer bottles, and ready to fight for European football teams. I was embarrassed and astonished

I was given an example of a young man in the neighborhood that is living large; driving some of the latest automobiles, yet has never owned a business or received employment check. I was simply told that, “Hayo ndo maisha ya dili mjini”. Coming from an environment in which seventeen hours of work a day is a routine, I could not believe or understand this culture in which young and able persons prefer idleness, and partying than working, and still drive Range Rovers. I decided to carry research to be certain before concluding otherwise. I visited the so called elite hanging spots, and my findings were not different from my previous ones.

High RANKING government officials goes to bars days in a row; I found many STK vehicles, Ministers Land Cruisers with their official’s numbers on them. Three days in a row, and simply said, no wonder we are so poor, A culture of shame. I wonder what in the world they tell their boss, Mr. President when they fail to deliver, more so their electorate when their many promises turns to be hot air? Don’t misquote me, nothing wrong with partying, however, should be done with moderation

Even though I left Tanzania in my late teenage years, my many years in foreign land never exposed me to such a culture, I have never witnessed anything of that nature, and can never jump into making conclusions, I am however, letting you the reader decide how a nation such a Tanzania can prosper, when her people are living to party instead of living to work. When her leaders and high ranking officials’ penchant for their own ambitions and interests supersede the country’s well being?

I was made to understand that the culture of deals is deeply entrenched not only in the streets, but also in major public organs, in which a handful or a few persons are truly committed to their work. Many have nothing more than brainstorming how to push bogus deals -payment claims- or simply get their customary 10% than defend the country. These poseur and obsequious officials are nothing but miniatures of EPA criminals, dragging the country into her death bed.Tanzanians are pushing their country into total destruction.Professionals entrusted with the power to protect the public, are the very people dishing licenses to businessmen and women setting up bars and nightclubs in residential areas without observing the guidelines and city buildings codes. A hall in Segerea CCM- Chama- is a typical example of the bars that plays music almost 14 hours a day in the middle of a residential area. Not only are they causing noise pollution, they are making it extremely tough for school children spending many hours scrambling to get home, particularly difficult to study, and the government is simply to powerless to act.

I cannot be persuaded to believe that, city of Dar es Salaam has no ordinances that prohibit times in which alcohol can be sold to the public. Neither can I believe that, there are no regulatory authorities that can enforce the ordinances that prohibit sound disturbance in residential areas. These are problems in poor areas of the city and not the likes of Masaki and Hoyster-bay where the elite bask.

In a country where a minister, can attend a bar, days in a row, go to sleep, get up the next day attend state duties with hangover. Believe me or not, such a man has nothing new for the country. All he has is time to sign anything that comes in front of him without looking in details the contents of that document, and that is why our country is getting poor and poorer, because there is no time to scrutinize shady contracts.There is never going to be any economic progress as long as our top bottom leadership approach to finding our social, political and economic solutions lies in the hands of the people with more time to party and attend Ms. Tanzania pageantry than following up with the law enforcers on who kill Albinos. A culture of shame!

I wonder how logical and responsible people can describe a situation within a nation, in which young people are driving around without working. Top leaders are partying every day, young kids cannot study because they are exposed to bars with dirty language and uncontrolled music around the clock? And Laws established to protect the people are simply irrelevant to the poor majority, but too strong to protect the mighty and the powerful;

I see a negative progression, stealthy and fast demise of a nation. Our nation’s economic future outlook is grim, social and moral pillars are in shambles. Tanzanians who love their country must be realistic with these shameful social vices.We must work swiftly, rapidly, and collectively to condemn these acts of social perversion in order to resuscitate life into our nation from her slow and stealthy economic, social and moral death. If we can’t be sacrificial and courageous enough to stand up to these vices tearing our country apart, by condemning them; instead spending our time discussing people’s personalities, and fighting individual’s progress, then we are in for a long night of affliction

All checks should be written to Charles Semakula because that is the name usedto open the account for practical purposes.For those who have accounts withWells Fargo Bank they can transfer their contributions online using the nameabove.Please send this to many friends andall Tanzanians to help for the burial oflate Swalehe Msuya.

Thank You

************************************************************

I just received the news of the passing of Mzee Swalehe Msuya in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I will always remember the words of wisdome you shared during my last visit to Minneapolis. Rest in Eternal Peace Mzee.

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) - He's hairy, his table manners are atrocious, and he wants to be your friend on Facebook.

No, it's not the ex-boyfriend. It's Muhozi, an endangered Ugandan mountain gorilla, who's appearing online as part of a fundraising program the Ugandan Wildlife Authority is launching Saturday to help save the species.

Around 340 mountain gorillas - nearly half of the 740 remaining worldwide - live in Uganda's lush Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The rest live in the Virunga mountain range, which stretches from Uganda into Rwanda and the war-ravaged Democratic Republic of Congo.Despite their size - a male silverback can reach over 7 feet (2.1 meters) and weigh 400 pounds (180 kilogram) - the gorillas are threatened by poachers who kill them for meat, farmers and charcoal-burners who encroach on their habitat, and the indiscriminate bullets of rebels on the run. They must be protected by rangers with automatic rifles.

The Wildlife Authority is hoping that fans will befriend a gorilla on Facebook or MySpace or follow it on Twitter in return for a minimum donation of a dollar. The money will be used to hire extra rangers to protect the gorillas and safeguard their habitat.

In return, gorilla friends will receive regular updates about their chosen gorilla, be able to track their progress through global positioning systems, have their gorilla's picture on their home page and receive gorilla trivia - like the fact that the name is derived from a Greek word, gorillai, meaning 'hairy women.'

Wildlife Authority spokeswoman Lilian Nsubuga said she hoped the program would give people who could not afford to travel to Uganda themselves the chance to feel closer to the animals. About 10,500 tourists visit Uganda each year to see the gorillas. An entry permit for the park is $500 per person. Last year Uganda earned $600 million through tourism and over 90 percent of the money was from gorilla tourism.

"The (gorillas) are also very similar to human beings. That's what makes many people want to look at them," Nsubuga said.

Thomas Slater, the director of the gorilla website, said internet users would be able to befriend any individual from one of seven groups habituated to human contacts.

"You will be able to learn more concerning the particular gorilla, its character, family and relationships," he said.---

Campaign on Drugs said to Enlarge breasts beginsNa Joyce Kisaka18th September 2009

The government has embarked on a nationwide community-based education and sensitisation campaign on the dangers of the haphazard use of cosmetics.

The campaign is aimed at saving the lives of hundreds of cosmetic-crazy women whose health is at serious risk following persistent application of creams believed to help enlarge breasts and bums.

In remarks made exclusively to The Guardian earlier this week, Health and Social Welfare minister David Mwakyusa warned of the imminent health complications that users of the banned cosmetics were in for.

The creams have been confirmed to cause severe harm instead of leading to enhanced beauty those applying them were dying to realise, he said.

He added that the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TDFA) would spearhead the campaign while also devising strategies to control the importation, supply and use of the drugs.

The creams in question are said to originate from China before “mysteriously” (according to sources) finding their ways into the Tanzanian market, chiefly in Dar es Salaam. Despite warnings by medical authorities on the harm they can cause, they have inexplicably gained immense popularity in recent months, judging from the swelling numbers of people hunting for them.

A week-long survey by this paper in different parts of Dar es Salaam seeking to verify the availability of creams revealed the intricacies involved in getting them, a common comment being that they were sold only to faces familiar to those stocking them.

It was further learnt that the supply of the drugs was especially huge in the city but also in all other the regions, and were seldom on display.

“Usually, limited supplies are retrieved from storerooms and made available to serious customers after a thorough screening process to make sure that the dispensing chemists were safe,” according to one source.

Commenting on the circulation of the creams in the local market and whether that was evidence of failure by the government to control their importation, sale and use, Prof Mwakyusa said it would not be fair to heap the blame on the government “or specifically TFDA”.

Instead, he explained that the existence of numerous unauthorised routes that made it difficult for the authorities to stamp out the supply.

But he was emphatic that the government would continue making efforts to plug all loopholes through which the creams and all other contraband made it into Tanzania, “and we will keep wananchi posted on developments alongside continuing to educate and sensitise them on the hazards of using these drugs”.

Asked about what he believed was the best approach through which to contain the situation, Prof Mwakyusa said: “What is obvious is that demand for a commodity will always sustain its market. An item that is not selling will soon be out of the market.”

He added that it was thus a lot better to underscore the need to focus attention on the public awareness campaign the government has devised “to ensure that the supply of these creams is cut off and wananchi stop buying and using them”.

“It is a national obligation to put the situation in check by eliminating all dangerous drugs and ensuring that even safe drugs are consumer under the guidance of medical experts. This must be done the health of more of our people is exposed to danger,” stated the minister.

“The damage to body tissue that the use of these creams can cause will manifest itself most in the coming few years, and this condition might be irreversible. We (government) have the duty to stop this from happening,” he added.

Most Dar es Salaam residents interviewed on the matter recommended that severer measures be taken to put the situation under control. They saw search-and-destroy operations as the most realistic way out in the short term.

“But what is this madness going on among women these days? Who told them that beauty is acquired that queer way? This is outrageous, and something should be done immediately to reverse the suicidal trend,” said Dominick Mpolaki, a pharmacist based in the city.

A cautious visit by The Guardian to one of the numerous shops in Kariakoo where the breast and bum enhancing creams are reportedly available non-stop found evidence of the highly secretive nature of the transactions involved in acquiring them.

Customers would walk in shops for a supposed tête-à-tête with retailers, before flashing pieces of paper with the name of the drug being sought written on it. The salesperson would then take a “CID-style” look at the customer to authenticate the genuineness of the demand before retrieving the drugs from storerooms.

Asked why she had not cared to verify the efficacy and safety of the creams before applying them, a woman who had suffered serious side-effects said: “I miscalculated. Applying the gel has left my body embarrassingly deformed. My dream of landing the anticipated so-called 8 figure has vanished, leaving me with profound regrets.”

Another “victim”, from Magomeni in Dar es Salaam, explained: “It is a neighbour I had known very well for years who drew me into using these creams. She herself had applied them for very long and her ‘morphology’ appeared to have improved much over time. I fell into her trap, and see how horrendous I now look!”

She added: “She appeared great and her husband was proud of her. I wanted to look like her. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out my way. I now suffer from recurrent skin irritation and the body figure I longed for will never be achieved.”

A third lady, who identified herself as a trader from Arusha popularly known as Lily, said she had generated super profits from years of selling ointments and creams widely believed to enlarge parts of the body.

“Demand for the items has been growing like wildfire in Arusha. I am now in Dar es Salaam to explore ways of expanding my business,” she explained.

“You see, women are not like men and always march with changes in fashion. My customers don’t care about fairy tales about side-effects (of applying the creams); the only thing they are after is beauty, which is what I guarantee them,” added a beaming Lily, slowly moving away to avoid further questions from this reporter.

On a rather positive note, some of those selling the creams advise prospective customers to provide proof of their health status before they can be attended to.

Sources say only those confirmed to be HIV-negative can then get the creams, apparently because the use of the concoctions makes the body even less resistant to disease.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

But now that I'm well over the age of fifty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today.

You've got it so easy and yet you don'tknow how good you've got it!

When I was a your age, there wasn't any email!!We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen!

Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox and it would take, like, a week to get there!In fact, there wasn't any INTERNET when we were kids! Yeah, that's right...no internet!! If we wanted to know something, we had toGO TO THE LIBRARY AND LOOK IT UP....Using a Card Catalogue!!

Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick our ass! Nowhere was safe!

There were no MP3' s or Napsters! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the damn record store and shoplift it yourself!Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up! There were no CD players either! We had tape decks in our car. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished and the tape would come undone. Cause - that's how we rolled!

We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that's it!

And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either!When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your mom, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics!Uh-uh! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'. Your guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination!! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen... forever!And you could never win.

The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!

Wanna know what's on TV.....You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out! And you were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your ass and walk over to the TV to change the channel!

NO REMOTES!!!Think about that a for a little while!

There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying!?! We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little bastards!

And we didn't have microwaves, if we wanted to heat something up we had to use the stove! And wait!

That's what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1980 or before!

About Me

I worked for Tanzania's Daily News for 11 years leaving as a Senior Reporter. I love acting, films, short story writing and cooking. I blog in English and Swahili. I am a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and AFTRA.
You can contact me at chemiche3@yahoo.com.